Hood latch



D. P. HYNES oct. 27, 1931.

HOOD LATCH Filed sepf. 8, 195o 2 Sheets-Sheet l D. F. HYNES HOOD LATCHOct. 27, 1931.

Filed sept. a, 195o 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z7@ We 725%?" ,z'TeZZ l0. @7565 @y@LA/wl Patented Oct. 27, 1931 INETD STATES PATENT ori-ICE 4llIBRE-'ifl'iP. I-IYNES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CHICAGO FOR-SING & MANU-FACTURING CO., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS HOODLATCH Application led September 8, 1930. Serial No. 480,356.

My invention relates to a latch or closing means. One applicationthereof is as a hood latch for an automobile hood closure. One object isthe provision of such a latch or closure which shall be eliicient andpositive in its action and which shall be easily actuated. Anotherobject is the provision ot a latch or locking device which shall yield-'ingly draw a lower edge of a hood closure downwardly and inwardly towarda limiting abutment. Another object is the provision of a closure whichincludes an interior locking device and an exterior control memberadapted also to lift the closure to which the locking device isapplied.- Other objects will appear 'from time to time in the course ofthe specilication 'and claims. I illustrate my invention more or lessdiagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is aninside view illustrating the device in locking position;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2--2 of 'Y FigureY `Il Figure 3V is asimilar section showing the parts in unlocked position;

Figure l is asection on the of Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5 Figure 3.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specificationand drawings` Referring to the drawings, A generally indicates a trameof an automobile which is provided with an upwardly extending abutmentA1. B indicates aside of an automobile hood closure, the lower edge B1of which is adapted to be opposed eXteriorly to the abutment A1. Mountedon the inner face ot the hood closure B is the loclr assembly plate orsupport generally indicated as C. It may have the apertures C1 wherebyit may be riveted, or bolted as at C2, to the inner face ot the hood. Itincludes also, at its lower end, an inwardly projecting flange 3provided with an aperture C4. Its up er portion is im@ ,ft-i

Vapertured, as at C5, and adjacent said aperthe lever generallyindicated as D. It may be mounted upon a` pivot pin D1 passing throughthe apertures C7. It includes an exteriorly extending lever arm orhandle portion D2 which passes outwardly through the aperture C5 andthrough a correspond.- ing or aligning aperture D3 in the hood itself.D4 indicates an inner lever arm, the two arms forming in effect a bellcrank lever. Pivoted to the outer end of the lever D4, as upon the pinor pins D5, is the latch assembly generally indicated as E. It mayinclude the two side pieces El connected at their edge, as at E2. E3indicates a guide member lixed, as herein shown, as in relation to theside pieces E1. A hook E5 is slidably mounted within the side pieces E1,which Jform a guide therefor. The hsok member includes the hook portionproper E6 and a spring housing member formed of the side elements E7which are connected at their upper ends as at E8. A spring E9 iscompressed between the member ES and the bottom El of the guide E3. Itwill be noted, as in Figure 2, that the hook or latch assembly sodescribed passes through the aperture C4. The aperture is preferably ofabout the same width as the latch assembly but of somewhat greaterlength. Vhen the device is in locking position the guide E3 engages oneend ot the aperture and the latch the other, but when the hook is inunlocked position the guide E3 lies at a level below that of the flangeC3 and the latch assembly may move along the length of the aperturestopped in its downward movement by the lugs E11 E11.

Gr generally indicates a locking abutment positioned within the hood,and for example secured to the radiator flange or ledge or to the dashor cowl flange indicated as G1, upwardly projecting above the member A.I have herein shown as a locking abutmenta pin G2 mounted upon anysuitable base G3.

It will be realized that whereas I vhave de- 'if ver vt;

my description and drawings to be taken as in ka broad senseillustrative or diagrammatic. .The use and operation of myinvention areas follows.: Y Y v In locking automobile hoods, I lind it desirableV toprovide a hood latch which is positive in its action ,and which tendstodraw a lower edge of vthe hood closure downwardly andinwardly. IY findit also desirableto associate with abconcealed Vorinside-hood y ylatchan exteriorhandle or V.contr'oylmember vwhich serves to li'ftthehoodafter the latchV Vhas been released;r

It will be seen from a consideration of Figures 2 and 3 that when thehook E6 is in. looking position, thefhandle D2 is at the lower.extremity Vof itsrotation.V rIhe spring E9 draws the lioolrf'E6 upwardlykagainst the b arfory pin' G22, The: inclination of the aXis or linealong whichthis thrust is directed andthe inclination'of the hook E6,tends to drawl the-,loweredge of the-hoodv inwardly against thevabutment A1,.. as well as downwardly `toward the frame A.A When theVoperator lwishes to release lthe latch and to liftvthe hood, he merelylrotates the'leverD2`intothe position inv which it is shown in Figure3.V He thereby moves the upper end of? the assembly E outwardly andvmoves itslovver end inwardly.

QIV hen the leve-r D2' is. in the position in which it isshown inFigure, the hook Ee is also .out otv'ertical alignment withthe memberlG,The operator Vmay then merely continue hislifting movement, and the hoodIn reference to Figures Zandf and the aperture (lKir I prefer to employ.Vrictional washers D1.o 'D11 in association withthepivots D5' and D1respectively.- Taking the I parts in the position in'which they areshown inFigureiS, aV downward movement of the handle `D2. not onlyliitsltheinner `arm D4? Y Vof the `lever but valso thrusts the latch as-'sembly forwardly .toward th e innerend of the apertureY C `Thispositively thrusts the hook .E6 beneatlithe lockingabutment G2, asshowninfFigure 2, an'dfurther downward moveinentof thehandle D2 .drawsthe hook upwardly .into its locking engagement with the hook. yOn theother hand, in unlatch-ing the device, when the handleD2v is raised thefrictional washers D10 will cause thelatch assembly to movetoward the'opposite end i of the..apertures C4, beiorefpermitting relativerotationfof the'latchand lever.; vThereby the latch Vmember ispositioned substantially outofvertical alignment withthe abutmentorkeeperlG2 fand a direct upwardmovement otthe'hood be made withoutinterfer- 1 ence between latch'andy abutment. The `frictionalmembers'D?1 rserve-to reduce the prob-v abilityV of vunintendedmovementof the han# dle D2. .The frictionis suliicienty to prevg-mtv unintendedA.movemenp but Qinsuiiicient .to

hamper intended'manual movement of the handle, n

Referring to Figure 2, when the handle D2 is moved as far inwardly as itcan go, a line drawn from the bearing pointlbetween the hook EG and thekeeper G2 to the center of the bearing or; pivot D5 is past the center`of the main pivot or bearing D1, thus mak- Y ing the hook hold itselfin locked position.

Referring to-'the action of thelowerpor l tion 'of theylatchfassemblyQthelength' ofl the aperture C4 provides eXtra space forthe 'latch'assembly Vhen the hook E'is moved lfrom the position in whichit is shown in Figo ure?)y to'the'position in which it is shown inFigure 2, the hookE6 is movedvunder the keeper G2'befor'e there isanysubstantial upward movement ofthelatch assembly. 'The `frictionalwashers D10 have this ellect, since hook E6 toward the keeper 1G21 Themem4- ber E3 serves to guide the upward movement Y a whole"th'rougfhtheof the latch member as aperture o C4.' Y

I claim: u t, f 1. In a hood faste eror the ylike the lcombination witha hinged door member to'- be latched, of a keeper mounted withintheihood,

a latch carried by the' -hooddoor andmounted4 therewithin vforlongitudinal and lateral movement in relation to the'keeper, guiding Ymeanspositione'dinteriorlyofthe' door adapt ed to guide the movement ofthe latch, said guiding means being'A provided with an aperture of. alength substantiallygreaterthan thetliiclness of thelatchv extendingtransversely ofthe latch,` thelatch being freelymovablelaterallywithinthe limits of. said aperture, and a unitary doorhandle and latch operating member positioned upon said door andeXtending'on each side thereof, and a frictional connection between saidvmember" andthe latch, said frictional connection functioning tocooperatively move the latch by the handle withinthe limitsV v`definedby saidV apertureof'the guideJ-` t V2. In a hood fasteneror the like thecombination with a hingeddoor member to bey latchedpof a" keeper mountedwithin the hood, allatchy `carried by thehood door and 'y mountedtherewithin for' longitudinal and latenal. movement in relation gto thekeeper,

guiding means positioned interiorly of the with an opposed portion ofthe first-mendoor adapted to guide the movement of the tioned guide.

latch, said guiding means being provided with an aperture of a lengthsubstantially greater than the thickness of the latch extendingtransversely of the latch, the latch being freely movable laterallywithin the limits of said aperture, and a unitary door handle and latchoperating member positioned upon said door and extending on each sidethereof, said latch being pivoted to said member, and a frictioncreating means interposed between said member and latch.

3. In a hood fastener, the combination with a hinged door member to belatched, of a keeper within the hood, a latch carried by the hood doorand mounted within said door for longitudinal and lateral swingingmovement in relation to the keeper, actuating means for the latch,including a unitary door handle and latch lever positioned upon saiddoor and extending on each side thereof and pivoted for rotation inrelation to said door about an axis generally horizontal, and positionedinwardly of the door and substantially above the keeper, said latchbeing pivoted to said door handle, within the door, a guide for saidlatch mounted on said door and positioned above said keeper and belowthe axis of the door handle, said guide being apertured, the latchpassing through said aperture and being adapted to swing freely towardand away from the inner face of the door within the limits of saidaperture, and additional guiding means, movable with the latch, adaptedduring movement of said latch to control the position of said latch inrelation to the first-mentioned guiding means.

4. In a hood fastener, the combination with a hinged door member to belatched, of a keeper within the hood, a latch carried by the hood doorand mounted within said door for longitudinal and lateral swingingmovement in relation to the keeper, actuating means for the latch,including a unitary door handle and latch lever positioned upon saiddoor and extending on each side thereof and pivoted for rotation inrelation to said door about an axis generally horizontal, and positionedinwardly of the door and substantially above the keeper, said latchbeing pivoted to said door handle, within the door, a guide for saidlatch mounted on said door and positicned above said keeper and belowthe axis of the door handle, said guide being apertured, the latchpassing through said aperture and being adapted to swing freely towardand away from the inner face of the door within the limits of saidaperture, and additional guiding means movable with the latch, adaptedduring movement of said latch to control the position of said latch inrelation to the first-mentioned guiding means, said additional meansbeing adapted to eect a camming function in cooperation Signed atChicago, county of Cook and State of Illinois, this 6th day of August,1930.

DIBRELL P. HYNES.

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